Weekly Rankings: Week 10 Value Meter

Jeff Erickson is a co-founder of RotoWire and the only two-time winner of Baseball Writer of the Year from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He's also in the FSWA Hall of Fame. He roots for the Reds, Bengals, Red Wings, Pacers and Northwestern University (the real NU).

***CLEVELAND, KANSAS CITY, NEW ENGLAND and the NEW YORK JETS are all on bye this week!!!***

Here are our rankings for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. Our rankings are based on the following scoring system: three points for a passing touchdown; six points for a rushing/receiving touchdown; one point for every 20 passing yards; and one point for every 10 rushing/receiving yards. Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.

This article will be posted on Tuesday evenings, followed by two updates later in the week, usually on Thursday and then Sunday morning.

By all means, if you want to discuss a rank, or want me to add a player, chime in on the comments. I try to be receptive to your feedback and try to respond to most comments, though on occasion the volume can be quite thick. Please refer to the rankings first when asking "should I start Player A vs. Player B?".

I repeat, ***CLEVELAND, KANSAS CITY, NEW ENGLAND and the NEW YORK JETS are on bye this week!!!***

*Jay Cutler CHI vs. DetNote: (Groin) Starting to back off early talk that he would come back this week against the Lions - we'll wait and see if he practices before moving him up. Full return to practice, and now expected to start.

Jake Locker TEN vs. JaxNote: Sloppy game against the Rams, when many were counting on him as a bye-week starter. That's two good defensive games in a row for the Rams - and the two previous games had their positives, too.

14.

Andrew Luck IND vs. StLNote: Low rating is based primarily on matchup - Rams have actually played pretty good pass defense the last four weeks. But I am bumping him up two spots.

15.

*Russell Wilson SEA at AtlNote: Got 'banged around' against Tampa Bay but is not in risk of missing Week 10's game against the Falcons. Going to be without center Max Unger against Atlanta.

Case Keenum HOU at AriNote: Huge first half, cooled off in the second half as the Colts' pass rush improved (and the Texans' offense got more conservative).

18.

Christian Ponder MIN vs. WasNote: Already announced as the starter for Week 10. Ponder played well at Dallas, plus I like the matchup. On the downside, it is a Thursday night game, so there's a potential for it to be a little sloppy. *** Suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the win over the Redskins on Thursday. ***

19.

Matt Ryan ATL vs. SeaNote: Seven interceptions over the last two games, and now draws the Seahawks.

*EJ Manuel BUF at PitNote: (Knee) Cleared to play, now we'll see how he looks in practice before he regains the starting job. Full practice - looks like he'll start. *** Officially named the starter. ***

*Andre Ellington ARZ vs. HouNote: Talk of Mendenhall starting isn't going to scare me away from using Ellington this week - Cardinals also said that Ellington would get around 20 touches, which is good enough for me. ***

17.

C.J. Spiller BUF at PitNote: Huge yardage game, though he still had fewer carries than Jackson and didn't get a score. (Ankle) Full go Wednesday, seems to be in as good a condition as he's been all year.

18.

Ryan Mathews SD vs. DenNote: Somehow Mathews, who had back-to-back 100-yard games before the bye, averaged 4.9 yards per carry yet got just seven carries against the Redskins - who are still the Redskins. Indefensible.

19.

*Ben Tate HOU at AriNote: Played through four cracked ribs on Sunday night and was 'hurting pretty bad' afterward, though at least he made it through. Limited practice Thursday - following same script as last week.

20.

*Steven Jackson ATL vs. SeaNote: Jackson ran reasonably well against Carolina, and Seattle has given up back-to-back 100-yard games to Zac Stacy and Mike James - quietly a good spot?

21.

*Donald Brown IND vs. StLNote: Could get the majority of the Colts' carries this week if Richardson is limited or can't go - and this is a pretty good run matchup. Trending upward.

*Giovani Bernard CIN at BalNote: Looked great befor injuring his shoulder late. We'll see if he can practice this week, but he's expected to return. (Ribs) Limited Thursday. *** Limited in practice all week, yet still expected to play. ***

*Trent Richardson IND vs. StLNote: Stop us if you've heard this one before - Donald Brown was the better back for the Colts on Sunday. (Ankle) Did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. *** Limited practice Friday, but expected to play.***

*Rashard Mendenhall ARZ vs. HouNote: (Toe) Was able to go during a 'special practice' Monday after getting scratched in Week 8. Limited practice Thursday. Sitting out remains a possibility, but there's at least some progress. *** Will start, but Ellington is expected to get up to 20 touches this week.***

*Darren McFadden OAK at NYGNote: Tweaked his hamstring in the loss to the Eagles - it's the same injury that forced him to miss a game earlier this season. Has not practiced yet this week. ***Officially ruled out.***

*Arian Foster HOU at AriNote: Left early with a back injury, crushing fantasy owners that started. I think he's in the Roddy White category now - have to keep him benched until he makes it through a game unscathed. Has not practiced Wednesday or Thursday. *** Will have back surgery, out for the season. ***

*Doug Martin TB vs. MiaNote: (Shoulder) 'In play' to return Monday night. It'll be an interesting week of practice, especially with Mike James running so well in Week 9. Did not practice Thursday, IR before Monday night still a possibility.

Jerricho Cotchery PIT vs. BufNote: You just know that there was someone out there that started Cotchery and Cooper in a desperation play because they had Megatron and Welker on bye. Just tip your hat and curse the fantasy gods.

*Darrius Heyward-Bey IND vs. StLNote: Tests for a concussion after Sunday's loss came up negative. Alas, so did tests for good hands. Full practice Wednesday. *** Full practice again Friday, listed as probable.***

51.

Tiquan Underwood TB vs. MiaNote: Just three targets, but at least one went for a touchdown.

52.

*Eddie Royal SD vs. DenNote: (Toe) Did not practice Thursday. *** Did not practice all week, listed as questionable. ***

*Roddy White ATL vs. SeaNote: (Hamstring) Limited Thursday, some signs of optimism, but he's on my do-not-play list until he actually gets through a game unscathed. ***Limited practice all week, listed as questionable.***

*Andre Ellington ARZ vs. HouNote: Talk of Mendenhall starting isn't going to scare me away from using Ellington this week - Cardinals also said that Ellington would get around 20 touches, which is good enough for me. ***

*Giovani Bernard CIN at BalNote: Looked great befor injuring his shoulder late. We'll see if he can practice this week, but he's expected to return. (Ribs) Limited Thursday. *** Limited in practice all week, yet still expected to play. ***

46.

*Steven Jackson ATL vs. SeaNote: Jackson ran reasonably well against Carolina, and Seattle has given up back-to-back 100-yard games to Zac Stacy and Mike James - quietly a good spot?

Ryan Mathews SD vs. DenNote: Somehow Mathews, who had back-to-back 100-yard games before the bye, averaged 4.9 yards per carry yet got just seven carries against the Redskins - who are still the Redskins. Indefensible.

54.

*Ben Tate HOU at AriNote: Played through four cracked ribs on Sunday night and was 'hurting pretty bad' afterward, though at least he made it through. Limited practice Thursday - following same script as last week.

C.J. Spiller BUF at PitNote: Huge yardage game, though he still had fewer carries than Jackson and didn't get a score. (Ankle) Full go Wednesday, seems to be in as good a condition as he's been all year.

58.

*Darren Sproles NO vs. DalNote: Suffered a concussion in the first quarter against the Jets. Full practice Wednesday after receiving clearance from the team's doctors. *** Listed as probable. ***

*Trent Richardson IND vs. StLNote: Stop us if you've heard this one before - Donald Brown was the better back for the Colts on Sunday. (Ankle) Did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. *** Limited practice Friday, but expected to play.***

Jerricho Cotchery PIT vs. BufNote: You just know that there was someone out there that started Cotchery and Cooper in a desperation play because they had Megatron and Welker on bye. Just tip your hat and curse the fantasy gods.

*Darrius Heyward-Bey IND vs. StLNote: Tests for a concussion after Sunday's loss came up negative. Alas, so did tests for good hands. Full practice Wednesday. *** Full practice again Friday, listed as probable.***

90.

Tiquan Underwood TB vs. MiaNote: Just three targets, but at least one went for a touchdown.

91.

*Eddie Royal SD vs. DenNote: (Toe) Did not practice Thursday. *** Did not practice all week, listed as questionable. ***

*Caleb Sturgis MIA at TBNote: Had a bad miss early Thursday night, but rallied to make two others, including a game-tying kick to send the game into overtime. (Groin) Limited in practice Thursday. *** Full participant Saturday. ***